UN Resident Coordinator and Local Government Minister reflect on progress in “Leaving No One Behind.”

The UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone Mr Babatunde Ahonsi, met with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon Mr Tamba Lamina, to reflect on progress made in “leaving no one behind”, particularly those in the rural communities.

Mr Ahonsi paid a courtesy call on the Minister at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Youyi Building in Freetown on Monday. During the meeting, the RC indicated that his role is to ensure that United Nations agencies in Sierra Leone work better together to deliver high impact, value-added support to actualize the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), which is anchored on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. He underscored the several multi-stakeholder engagements between UN agencies and MLGRD, indicating more opportunities for collaboration.

“The Ministry is well placed to drive the national decentralization agenda,” the RC said. He expressed his desire to meet with the traditional leaders, particularly the Paramount Chiefs and local councils to explore partnerships with them. The Minister responded that MLGRD has always focused on engaging with a key development partners like the UN and is central to governance and development in Sierra Leone. “At the centre of peacebuilding and taking governance very close to the people is the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development,” the Minister indicated. One Fambul, a national platform for mobilizing, growing, and strengthening community-owned and led peacebuilding and development, has been incorporated into the new National Decentralization Policy.

Moreover, the Minister discussed efforts to depoliticize the Local Councils through what he described as a progressive policy with nationwide consultations. Furthermore, he indicated that MLGRD has engaged with communities on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Minister also briefed the RC on ongoing efforts to complete the Ministry’s Strategic Plan, a whole system review that he would share soon with development partners.

The Deputy Minister, Ms Melrose Kargbo, who was also in attendance, said the plan would also serve as a resource mobilization tool and that once it is finalized, the Ministry would be calling on the UN to help in this effort. Minister Lamina concluded by calling for more engagement with the UN while stressing that MLGRD is central to transforming and changing the lives of the people at the grassroots.

Mr Thomas Berison Lansana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry also attended the meeting.